1. Hostess bars / nightclubs

At these places, you will face a common scam usually targeted at male travelers (like in Hungary, Turkey, etc).

You may be approached on the streets by a young female who will ask if you want to get a drink in a local bar or nightclub.

She will then spend the evening drinking with you in the nightlife venue. When you leave, you will handed a large bill for both your drinks. If you refuse to pay, you will be escorted to an ATM by the venue’s bouncers and ordered to withdraw money to settle the bill.

A twist on this scam is to invite male patrons to a massage parlour or karaoke bar.

Another popular scam which bars / nightclubs pull is that if you were to pay with your credit card, they can overcharge you on their end – for instance, adding a 0 to the end of your bill, which is basically 10x the price.

They will not give you a receipt because they claim that there is no such practice or that the machine is down.

What to do:

Do not head to a suggested bar together with a random stranger on the streets.

But if you do want to make new local friends, some questions to ponder:

Does the restaurant / bar seem legitimate? Are there customers?

Is the stranger reading from a script? Evasive about things?

Is he / she only bringing you to a particular restaurant or bar?

Some other tricks you can use:

Pretend that you have company by suggesting to go another place where you have a few friends at.

Ask for prices before ordering. Only drink what your waiter or you have poured.

Take a photo together.

If you fell into the trap:

Pay with a credit card but call the bank to dispute your charges immediately after leaving.

2. Drink spiking

Image source: timeout.com

How it works:

There have been reports of a rise in drink spiking incident in Croatia (e.g. Hula Hula Beach Bar in Hvar).

Get a good travel insurance (e.g. World Nomads, trusted by Lonely Planet and National Geographic – our review) which covers loss of valuables.

6. Sprigs of rosemary

Image source: uk.lush.com

How it works:

Croatia, like many areas of Europe (e.g. France), has seen an influx of residents from Eastern Europe, many of whom are gypsies who engage in a ‘sprig of rosemary scam’, where an older female gypsy offers you a sprig of rosemary.

This is claimed to be a token of friendship or something that will bring you good luck.

Once you accept it she will then ask you for money and if you refuse she will cause a commotion. Often the scammer will say that she will curse you if you do not give her money for the rosemary.

While you are arguing, an accomplice will pick your pockets.

You may encounter these scammers around Gomji Grad and the Church of St. Mark’s in Zagreb.

What to do:

The best way to avoid being a victim is to refuse to take anything that is offered to you in an unsolicited manner.

Besides rosemary, gypsies may also offer you other items such as small shells or an amulet or medallion.

7. Bosnia Dubrovnik border scam

Image source: mersad-photography.blogspot.com

How it works:

There have been reports of scammers acting as border guards and extorting tourists for money.

At the border control at Brgat Gornji on the D223, the modus operandi goes like this. There will be a building and gate at the crossing which look deserted with the lights turned off.

Once you drive past it, the lights will turn on suddenly and you will be asked to stop. You will be accused of trespassing and your passports will be “confiscated” for them to check.